Internal-combustion engine.



L. A. CARTER. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 6. 1914.

Patented 00L. 3]., 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L. A. CARTIER.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Pate ted (m. 31, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. I914.

- LIONEL A. (EAR'IJER, OF ST. LOUIS,

KOKEN, 015 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

menace.

Engines, of which the following is "a full,"

clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which itappertains to make and use the same.

.This invention relates to internal combustion'engines of the type inwhich a relatively small charge of combustible gas is compressed to thepoint of ignition so as to pro? duce a flame which ignites the mixturein the main cylinder of the engine that has been compressed on thecompression stroke of the piston.

One object of my invention is to provide an internal combustion engineof the gen- 2 eral type referred to or an ignition device for suchengines which is so designed that the pressure created in thecylinder'on' the compression stroke of the piston is utilized to actuatea part or member which causes a comparatively small charge of gas in afiring chamber or auxiliary cylinder to be compressed to the ignitionpoint, thereby producing an efficient and more reliable ignition devicethan those that have heretofore been designed, which comprised springs,levers,

or other moving parts for actuating the member that compressed thefiring charge to the ignition point.

Another object is to provide an internal 5 combustion engine of the typementioned in which the member that compresses the firing charge to theignition point has no connection with the piston in the main cylinder ofthe engine and is so arranged that there is no danger of the firingcharge'being ex- 1 ploded before the mixture in the main cylinder hasbeen compressed to the proper degree. And still another object is toprovide a practicable engine of the type referred to 5 which is ofsimple construction and is so designed that the explosions in the maincylinder can be timed and regulated as accurately as in an engineelectrical ignition device.

tlther objects and desirable features of my invention will behereinafter pointed out.

Figurel of the drawings is a Vertical sectional view of an internalcombustion engine constructed in accordance withmy invention. Fig. 2 isa similar view showing the Specification of Letters Patent.

provided with an parts in a difi'erent position. Fig. 3 is a detail top,plan view of the means for varying the time that the explosions occur.'Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating asli ht modification ofmy inventionwhich di ers from the form shown in Fig. 1 in that no checkvalve is provided for the port that establishes communication betweenthe main cylinder and the firing chamber. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionalview illustrating an in ternal combustion engine constructed inaccordance with my invention, in which the firing chamber is at onesideof the main cylinder of the engine. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing theparts in a difi'erent position. Fig. 7 isahorizontal sectional viewMISSOURI, ASSIGNOB, 01E ONE-HALF T0 WALTER Patented @ct. 31, 1199916..Application filed .1 uly 6,1914%. Serial 0. 849,255.

taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5; and Fig.

8 is a horizontal sectionalview taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5.

flame that is produced in said firing chamber passing into the maincylinder A and igniting the compressed charge in said cylinder.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1 the firing chamber Cisformed in a movable member 1, and a stationary member '2 projects intosaid chamber so as to act as a piston that compresses the gas in saidchamber-to the point of ignition when the member 1 is actuated in onedirection by the pressure in the main cylinder A of the engine. Themember 1 is reciprocatingly mounted in a sleeve 3 that is arranged inthe head of the cylinder A in. such a manner that the pressure in saidcylinder. Will be exerted upwardlyv on the lower end of the member 1,said sleeve either being formed integral with the cylinder or providedwith an externally screw-threaded portion 3 that can be screwed into theusual spark plug opening in the head of the cylinder-l lhe stationarymember 2 that constitutes the piston of the firing chamber C is carriedby a cap m chamber-O by the-explosion of thecharge therein to pass intothe main cylinder and ignite the compressed charge 1n said I "piece 4that closes theupper end of the y sleeve.3, and which is secured theretoby-a cross pin 5, or in any other suitable manner,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Communication I between the main-cylinder Aand the firing chamber 0 is esta'blished by one or more fports, so as topermit acharge' of gas to from escaping t enter the-chamber Q ontheconipression stroke of the piston'B. in the main cylinder,

and also to' permit the flame produced in the cylinder. In the formshown in Fig. 1 a port 6 in the lower end of'the member 1 permits acharge of gas to enter the firlng chamber C when the:pistonB in the maincylinder'i's movedupwardly on its comprescharge, the flame that isproduced in the chamber-C when the charge therein 'is exploded. escapinginto the main cylinder A through" a port 8 in the check valve 7, as

" shown in Fig. 2. While I prefer to pro-' ,vide the device with arelatively large port for admitting the. charge to the firing chamberand use' a check valve for trapping the charge in the firing chamber, Ido not wish it to be understood that it is absolutely necessary to use acheck valve, for, if desired, a comparatively small port 6 could beformed in the'member 1, as shown in Fig. 4;, so as to permit the chargeto enter the firing chamber'O and also permit the flame to pass throughsaidport into the maincylinder A. Means are provided for holding thememher 1 at rest during the compression stroke of the piston B"unti'luthe mixture in the cylinder A has been compressed to the properdegree, saidmeans beingso designed that the member 1 will befreleasedduring the compression stroke of the main piston B and at such a periodthat the charge in the main cylinder A will be ignited at the propertime in the cycle of operations of the engine. 'When the main 'piston- Bstarts to 'move upwardly on its compression stroke the member. 1 issecurely locked so that itcannot" move, consequently, a charge of gasflows from the main cylinder A through the port 6 into the firingchamber C. As the main piston B approaches the end of its compressionstroke the member 1 is released and the pressure that has been createdin the cylinder A causes said member 1 to move upwardly, and thuscompress .the explosive charge in the chamber C to the ignition point,the flame that is produced by the explosion of the charge in the chamberC passing into the main cylinder A through the port 8 in the checkvalve7, and thus igniting the compressed. gas the cylinder- A. e

Various means may be used for locking die member 1 and releasing it atthe proper period in the cycle of operations of the engine, the meansherein shown for this purpose consisting of a locking device 9 in one.

controlling mechanism, consisting of a yoke lever 15 and a rod 16, areprovided for shifting the cam 13 longitudinally ofthe shaft v1 1, as.shown in Figs. 1 and 3 so as to vary the time that the cam 13 actuatesthe lever 11. The spring 12 normally holds the lever 11 in such a'position that the device 9 will either be in engagement with the member1 or in position to engage the groove" 10 in said member. When the highpoint on the cam 13 engages the roll llfon the lower end of the lever 11the locking device 9 will be disengaged from the member 1, and thuspermit the'member 1 to move upwardly through the influence of thepressure in the cylinder A. The explosion produced in the firing chamberC tends to move the member 1 downwardly back to normal position, and thesuction produced in the main cylinder A on the power stroke of thepiston also tends to 'move the member 1 downwardly. If desired, however;a spring 17 can be arranged between the upper end of the member 1 andthe cap member 4 in the sleeve 3, so as to insure the member 1 movingdownwardly back tonormal position. A stop 3 at the lower jend'of thesleeve 3 limits the downward movement of the member 1 and prevents saidmember from projecting into the cylinder A. By changing the position of.

the timing c'am 1 or, in other words, shifting said cam longitudinallyof its shaft 14:,

the timing ofthe explosions in the cylinder A can be controlled asaccurately as in an engine equipped with an electrical-ignition device.

Various means may be employed for lubricating themovable member 1 andthe stationary piston 2 withwhich it cooperates, and in Fig. 1 I haveshown one means that may be used for this purpose, consisting of an oilpipe 18 for admitting oil to the sleeve 3 at such a point that oil canflow downwardly over, the side Walls of said sleeve and over theexterior of the stationary piston 2, which is provided at its lower endwith oil grooves 19 'Inthe fornrof my invention shown in Figs. 5 to 8,inclusive, the firing chamber C is arranged at one side of the maincylinder exerted downwardly on the upper end of the carried by areciprocating part or slide 20:

A adjacent the upper end of same, and the movable member 1 whichcompresses the charge in the chamber C to the point of ignition is soarranged that the pressure-in the cylinder A will force it downwardlyinto the chamber C. A port fi jn the side walls of the cylinder Aestablishes, communication between the firing chamber O and the maincylinder A, and means are provided for holding the member l in anelevated position, as shown in Fig. 5, during the compression stroke ofthe piston B inthe main cylinder so that a charge of gas can enter thefiring chamber at the proper period in the cycle of operations of. theengine and the member 1 released so that the pressure in the cylinder Awill be member 1, and thus cause the firing charge in the chamber C tobe exploded, the flame that results from said explosion passing througha port 8? preferably formed in the memberl? and igniting the compressedgas in the main-cylinder A.- The member 1 is that moves vertically inastationary. guide way 21, said slide being provided with an extension22 that coiiperates with a con-. stantly rotating cam '23 which causesthe slide 20 and the member 1 thereon to move upwardly and remain atrest while the mixture in the main cylinder A is being compressed on.the compression stroke of the main piston B. The cam 234s. so designedthat it will pass'out of engagement with the vblock 22 on the lower endof the guide-22 while the main piston B is moving upwardly on itscompression stroke, and means are provided for shifting said cam 23longi-- tudinally of the shaft 24 which carries same so as to vary theperiod in the cycle of operations of the engine that the cam 23 releasesthe slide 20, and thus enables the timing of the explosions to becontrolled accurately, the means herein shown for changing the positionof the cam consisting of-a shiftable lever 15 and alink 16 of similarconstruction to the means used for this purpose in the form of myinvention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. While I prefer to' arrange thefiring chamber vertical-1y and at one side of the main cylinder A, Iwish it to be understood that my invention is not limited to such aconstruction, for the firing chamber C and the movable member 1? insideof same could be arranged in various ther positions without departingfrom the spirit of my. invention. Furthermore, while ll prefer to formthe flame port'8 in the member 1, this is not essential, so long as saidflame port is located,- in such a position thatthe flame can 'pass fromthe fining chamber into the main cylinder. The firing. chamber 0' 'issubstan- I tially ll-shaped in crosssection, and the guide 21 in whiehthe member s1ides,is

provided with inclined side .walls that are I v disposed at the sameangle as the side walls of the firing chamber C. The member 1 issubstantially ll-shaped in cross. section and the slide 20 which carriessaid member is 7 0" substantially wedge-shaped in cross section. The.rear wall 25 of the guide 21 can be adjusted laterally toward thecylinder At so .asto compensate for'wear on the slide 20,

and thus insure a-practically gas-tight joint between the slide 20 andthe guide between which it moves. As shown in Fig. 5 the inner faceofthe' adjustablewall 25, against which the rear' face of the slidebears, is

straight and parallel to the path of move so ment of the piston ,B, butthe rear face of said wall 25 and the, cooperating faces on V v theguide 21, against which it bears, are ino in adjusted position consistsof bolts 27 that to pass through a vertically dis osed elongated slot 28of the guide and is s own clearly in Figs. 5 and 7. a V

In both forms of my invention a small charge of combustible gas isforcedinto the firing chamber during the compression stroke of the piston inthe main cylinder and at the proper period in the cycle of operations ofthe engine the movable part which compresses the charge in thefiring10c.

chamber is released so that the pressure in the main cylinder willactuate itand cause it to compress the firing. charge to the point ofignition, the flame that results from the explosion in the firingchamber passing into the main cylinder and igniting the 'compressed gastherein. No springs, levers or other mechanically operated parts aredepended upon'to actuatethe member which compresses the firing charge tothe point of ignition, but, on the contrary, the vpressure in the maincylinder of the engine is utilized to actuate said member, andconsequently, the engine is more efiicient than the engines of this typewhich have heretofore been ,de- J I signed. The movable member thatcauses the explosionin the firing chamber to occur is held securelylocked until the mixture in the main cylinder has been compressed to theproper'degree,-and asv the period in the 1:20 cycle of operations atwhich said member is released canbe varied by simply changing theposition of the cam 13 in theform shown in Fig. 1, or the cam 23 in-theform shown in Fig. 5, the timing of the explosions can be controlled asaccurately as in an engine provided with an "electrical ignitionapparatus'; I

, *My; improvediignition device comprises applied easily to an engineequipped with anelectricalignition apparatus, owingto the fact that theguide 3 which. carries the mov able member land also thestationarypistorr 5 that formsoneof the end walls of the firing chamber is sodesined thatit can be screwed into the usual spar ,plug'opening in theheadof the cylinderof-the engine.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim. is: 2- j f .1; r minternal vcombustion engine, a

cylinder, and relativelymovable members. forming a separate firingchamber that .f adapted' to receive a firing charge, one of said membersbeing interposed'between the firing charge in said chamber'and thegasesin the'cylinder and adapted to be moved in a direction to compressthe firing charge in said chamber to the point of ignition, by thedirect pressure which the gases in the cylinvder exert on said memberduring the compression stroke of the piston. y

. vIn an internal, combustion engine, a cylinder, a separate firingchamber that is QB-adapted to 'receive a firing charge, said chamberbeing formed relatively movable members, one of which is interposedbetween the firing charge in saidchamber andthe.

wgases in the vcylinder and' adapted to be moved in a direction tocompress the firing charge in saidchamber to the point of ignition,bythe pressure which the gases in the I vcylinderexert on said .memberduring the compression stroke of the piston, and means 'forenabling theperiod at which said firing charge is ignited to; bev'ai'ied so as tocontrol the timing offthe'ekplosions in thecylinder of the engine. v

3. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston'in saidcylinder, an ignition-deyi ce comprising a firing chamber, means for.permitting a a relatively small charge of combustible gases to; entersaid firing chamber'on the compression stroke of the piston in thecylinder of the engine, and a movable 'member forming part of saidchamber and interposed between the gases in the cylinder-"and in saidfiring chamber, said member being moved in a direction to compress thecharge in said firing chamber to g the pointvof ignition, by thepressure which the gases in the cylinder exert on said mem- Q her duringthe compressionstroke of the piston. i

4. In .an' internal Combustion engine, a- -'cylinder, apiston in saidcylinder, .an ignition device comprising a firing chamber thatcommunicates with the main cylinder of the 7 engine. and which isadapted to receive a i so relatively small charge of gas from. thecylinder diiring the compression stroke of the. piston'in the cylinder,said chamber'being formed byrelatively movable members, one 3 of whichisinterposed 'betwe'enthe gases in M the .firing'chamber'alnd the cylinderand.

compression stroke of the piston, and means 7.

.for holding said movable member at rest while the charge in 'the'maincylinder is being'partly compressed.

5. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston in saidcylinder, an ignition device comprising a firing chamber thatcommunicates with the cylinder of the en- -gine and which is adapted toreceive a rela- 'tively small charge of combustible gas durx Y ing thecompression stroke of the piston in 30 the cylinder, said chamber beingformed by relatively movable members, one of which is moved directly bythe pressure created in the cylinder on the compression stroke of thepiston to compress thecharge of combustible 35 gas in the firing-chamberto the point of ignition so as to produce an explosion which fires thecompressed gasin the cylinder, and means for holding said member at restwhilc the mixture in the cylinder is being compressed, said means beingso designed that said movable member is released after the -mixture inthe cylinder has been compressed that establishes communication betweensaid 0 firing chambenand: the cylinder of the engine, said chamber beingformed by relatively movable members, one of which is interposed betweenthe gases in the cylinder and" in said firing chamber and adapted to 10!.be moved ina direction to compress the charge in said firing chambertothe point of ignition and thus produce an explosion which fires thecompressed gases in the cylinder of the engine, by the pressure which111 the gases in the cylinder exert directly on said member during thecompression stroke of the piston.

7. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston in saidcylinder, a firing 111 chamber that is adapted to hold a relativelysmall quantity of combustible gas, a port that establishes communicationbetween said firing chamber-and the cylinder of the engine, said chamberbeing formed by rela- 121 tively movable members, one of which isactuated directly by the pressure created in the cylinder on thecompression stroke of the piston for compressing the charge ofbombustible gas in said firing'chamber to 12l the point of ignition soas to produce an explosion which fires the compressed gas in thecylinder of the engine, and an automatically-operating mechanism thatholds said member at rest during the compression 181 naoaeoa t 1 strokeof the piston and releases it at such a time that the mixture in thecylinder will be'ignited fiat the proper period in the cycle ofoperations of the engine.

8. lln an internal combustion engine,. a cylinder provided with apiston, a firing chamber of relatively small area formed by relativelymovable members, a port for per- I mitting gas to flow from the cylinderof the engine into said firing chamber on the comthrough which the flamepasses from the firing chamber so as to ignite the compressed mixture inthe cylinder.

9. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder provided with a piston,a firing chamber of relatively small cross-sectional area thatcommunicates with the cylinder of the engine and which is adapted to.re-

ceive a charge of gas from the cylinder, said chamber being formed byrelatively movable members, one of which is interposed between the gasesin said firing chamber and in the cylinder and adapted to be moved in adirection to compress the charge in the firing chamber to the point ofignition, by the pressure the gases in the cylinder exert on said memberduring the compressionable member interposed between the firing chargein said chamber and the gases in the cylinder and adapted to be actuatedby the pressure in the cylinder on the compression stroke of the pistonfor compressing the charge in the firing chamber to the point ofcross-sectional area ignition, and means that moves said mov-' ablemember in the opposite direction and holds 1t in such a position that acharge of gas can flow from the cylinder into the firing chamber on thecompression stroke of I the piston prior to the time said member startsto move to compress the charge in the firing chamber.

11. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a firing chamberhaving a port through which .a charge of combustible gas can pass fromthe main cylinder into said firing chamber, a movable member arranged insuch a manner that the pressure in the main cylinder will cause it tocompress the charge of gas in said firing chamber to the point ofignition, a slide that. carries said movable member, and an adjustableguide-way in which said slide travels.

12. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a firing chamber,means for permitting a charge of combustible gas to pass from thecylinder into said firing chamber, a movable member'operated by thepressure created in said cylinder on the compression stroke of thepiston for compressing, the charge of gas in the firing chamber to thepoint of ignition, a slide of approximately wedgershape in cross sectionthat carries said movable member, and means, for compensating for wearon said slide.

13. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a firing chamber,means for permitting a charge of combustible gas to pass from thecylinder into said firing chamber, a movable member operated solely bythe pressure of the gas compressed in the main cylinder on thecompression stroke of the piston for compressing the charge of gas inthe firing chamber to the point of ignition, a reciprocating part towhich said member is connected, and a cam cooperating with said part torestore said member after the charge in the firing chamber has beenignited. 7

ln testimony whereof ll hereunto afix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses, this twenty-seventh day of June 1914:.

